6-month-old among 4 killed in police firing in Bihar

Araria (Bihar): A protest against a proposed starch factory in Forbesganj, Bihar, turned bloody after four people were killed in the police firing. The incident happened yesterday.

Out of the four people, two succumbed to their injuries today.

A six-month-old child is among those killed. His mother is lying in hospital in critical condition.

The villagers were protesting that one of the roads connecting their village to Forbesganj town was blocked by the owners of the factory. According to the police, protesters got violent and tried to set ablaze the factory.

The police then fired 10 rounds to disperse the mob.

The mob had burnt a tractor and damaged vehicles of police and the sub-divisional magistrate.

Principal Secretary, Home, Amir Subhani and ADG (Headquarters) Rajbardhan Sharma told reporters that 27 policemen and five villagers were also injured in the clash and were being treated at different hospitals.

"Our investigation into the incident has not yet concluded as villagers are not cooperating. We will try to persuade them to cooperate and identify the bodies for burial," Subhani said.

(With PTI inputs)